by Jami Gray
She didn’t drop her gaze. “Probably, but not completely. Not yet.” She continued to pet him. Where her words alone may have raised his hackles, her body language kept him calm.
He leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss against her lips before pulling back, putting much needed space between them.
The loss of his heat left chills on her skin. Her claw marks on his cheek caught her attention. They were already healing, but seeing them made something inside her tremble. She dragged in a shaky breath and picked her words carefully. “How many bonded couples do you know?”
He stiffened, turned, and then paced a few feet away, running a hand over the back of his neck. Tense silence stretched between them as he retraced his steps back to her. She began to worry he wasn’t going to answer her. Then he said, “Two.”
“That’s not a lot.”
He gave her a wry look. “Bondings are rare among the Born.”
“Bondings are the happily-ever-afters for shifters.”
He gave a short laugh. “Those aren’t your words.”
She let a small smile curl her lips, struggling to hold the nonchalant stance against her bike. “Nope, my mom’s. So fair warning.” When he winced, she laughed. “Did you think I could hide what happened from my mom?”
“One could only hope,” he muttered, his shoulders hunching slightly. It was funny to watch the big, bad alpha squirm at the prospect of facing her mother.
“You’ll survive,” she teased. Her humor faded as she brought their conversation back on track. “You said ‘rare among the Born.’ What about the Bitten?”
Bitten wolves were an exception not a rule. Contrary to popular myths, a mere scratch or bite wouldn’t change a mortal into a shifter. It took a savage attack that left the victim near death. Even if the individual made it through the initial attack, their new reality tended to shatter most mortal minds. Those that actually managed to survive for any length of time fought a constant battle for control and never reached the power levels of those born to it.
“I can’t think of any Bitten wolves that are bonded. The few matings between a Bitten and a Born have always ended badly. Maybe there’s not enough balance between wolf and man for a Bitten to hold such a bond.”
“That’s depressing,” she said.
“It’s truth,” he answered, watching her.
“Okay, fine,” she said. “If bonding needs both wolf and man to agree to a relationship, how did we end up like this?”
His soft snarl echoed through the night. He didn’t like her question. “Like what?”
“Stop it,” she chided. “No games.”
His lips slowly uncurled. “No one’s been able to explain why bonding happens. Hell, even those sharing one tend to have a hard time putting what it is into words.” He moved until he stood next to her, brushing against her. “I do know that I couldn’t do it alone. If you hadn’t wanted us, you would be dead.”
She ignored the implications of his astute observation. “Which one triggered the bond, Warrick? You or your wolf?”
“You’re pushing, Xander.” His scowl deepened the shadows on his face as he shifted his weight forward.
“You’re the one who tied us together. Now deal with it.” Maybe she could get him to see what was so clear to her. If his wolf accepted her, why couldn’t the man? If she didn’t figure out how to open his damn eyes or heart, this tie would rip more than the pack apart. “Since your wolf already considers me yours, I’m betting on him.”
“We aren’t two separate beings.”
“Yes, you are. Just because you and your wolf have a thinner line than most doesn’t change that. There’s Warrick the alpha and Warrick the wolf. Which one decided to save us?”
“Both,” he snapped.
She tried to keep the relief washing through her hidden, knowing he wouldn’t appreciate it.
Before she could comment, he continued, his words scraping her sore heart. “The wolf thinks you’re his to protect. If he could, he’d keep you locked away from anyone who’d try to hurt you or use you to hurt him or the pack. The man—” He paused, carefully choosing his words. “The man knows you can protect yourself. You wouldn’t be a Wraith or a Tracker if you couldn’t, but—”
“But I’m a weakness the man—the alpha—can’t afford,” she repeated his earlier comment, understanding his logic. Not that it made it hurt any less. “If someone managed to get to me, you’d be distracted.”
“Distractions can get you killed,” he confirmed.
It took courage, more than was pretty, to ask the next question. “Do you really want this?”
“If I didn’t, you wouldn’t be here.” His answer was a strangely gentle reminder of the choices they both made.
“You can’t keep this—,” she waved a hand, chest height, back and forth between them, “—closed down. It’s causing issues.” Unfortunately, the bond worked both ways, which meant emotional exposure happened at both ends. Her stomach clenched at the thought. “You won’t be able to hide from me.” She tried to temper the accusation behind her statement.
“I haven’t hidden anything from you.”
She pressed her lips together, trapping the heated response hovering on her tongue. Arguing would get them nowhere. Or more precisely, it wouldn’t get them where she needed them to be. Folding her arms, she studied him. “So how do you know this stuff?”
“My parents were bonded.” It came out reluctant, the ice in his voice a warning she stumbled onto an emotional minefield.
She picked her way forward. “Were?”
“They died within hours of each other.”
She heeded the cold distance in his answer and changed directions. “What happens if I reject this?”
Her nose twitched at the sharp bite of anger suddenly flooding the air. Deep inside, a fragile hope strengthened. If he really thought she was a weakness, her question shouldn’t have provoked such a volatile reaction.
“There will be no other mate for my wolf,” he gritted out, tension tightening his body.
There was no silencing the devil inside her. “And the man?”
He growled, clearly at the end of his patience.
She let her grin free and cut him some slack. “Nice to know I wouldn’t be the only snappy one around.”
Truth was, if they couldn’t make this work, she couldn’t stay with the pack. Even if he never took another lover, she wouldn’t be able to remain near him and not want to be with him. Not after spending a year at his side. Besides, hadn’t her choice really been made weeks ago when she had reached out to the lifeline he offered? The question wasn’t whether she could accept the bond, it was whether she could accept the fact that Warrick might never allow her all the way in. She buried the knowledge that this man was hers, deep in her heart, determined not to let him see how much it would scar her soul if he refused to change.
She turned away and began to unfasten the helmet strapped to her bike. She wasn’t sure she could get the next bit out while facing him. “There have to be ground rules, Warrick.” She took the first hesitant step to bridge the gap. They might both be dominants, but he was an alpha. The fact he had given her the last few weeks without pressing for a decision was remarkable. And telling.
In the corner of her vision, she saw his shoulders tense. “What kind of ground rules?” Wary caution colored every syllable.
Putting the helmet on, she snapped the chinstrap closed and let a wicked grin curl her lips, knowing it would make him leery. “So worried, alpha mine? Scared of a little pixie?” She handed him the second helmet her brother produced from his trunk of preparedness and stepped to the other side of her bike.
He took it, his shoulders relaxing, and a rare grin flitted across his lips. For a moment, he appeared years younger and her heart sped up, just a little. “Last week, you got Ryuu into plastic pants and a purple wig then dragged him into that human club, Drucilla’s. There were pictures of him posted on Facebook.”
Her smile widened as
she put her hands on the bike’s seat and leaned forward. “Hey, not my fault his team couldn’t manage to hold a football during their last game.”
“He was dancing on a table.”
“He made almost a hundred bucks.”
Warrick finished securing his helmet and shook his head. He reached over the bike’s seat to gently trace a finger down her jaw. “I’d be stupid not to be cautious about your ground rules. I’ve learned not to underestimate you.”
“Smart man.” She cleared the huskiness from her voice and turned serious. “If we’re going to make this work, you have to stop shutting me out of the bond.”
He frowned. “I wasn’t aware…”
A distant look crossed his face as he trailed off. A kaleidoscope of emotions cascaded down their connection, making her stagger under the impact. It rolled her under. Flashes of images and feelings too fast to process seared across her mind and heart. She struggled to surface, unable to secure her mental footing in the swirling mass. It slowed, like a receding tide, leaving her gasping.
Warm hands gripped her shoulders, offering an anchor in the aftermath. She was grateful for his support, her arms trembling as they pushed against the bike’s seat.
A rumbled apology echoed in her ears and in her mind as Warrick adjusted the bond until the emotional flood leveled. “It’s not intentional,” he said. “Better?”
She gave a short nod, as the bond found its balance between them. Even now, when he was trying to keep it open, she could sense parts still blocked from her. But it was a good start and better than before.
She took a breath, steadied, then laid out the rest of her rules. “No others. If you’re mine, you’re mine.” It took concentration not to let her claws free to curl into the leather beneath her hands.
He arched an eyebrow. “There hasn’t been anyone else in the year we’ve been together. Why would it change?”
She ignored his question. If he wanted to remain blind to the females who tried their damn sneaky best to get in his bed, so be it. “You’re mine, therefore I’m free to defend that claim however I see fit.”
He studied her. “It goes both ways.”
“Fair enough,” she agreed. “You can’t interfere if I’m called in by Mulcahy for a job.”
Ryan Mulcahy was the Captain of the Wraiths—the Kyn’s black-ops group. There were no rules of engagement, other than to protect the Kyn and humans from the nightmares lurking in the shadows. The elite group was generally regarded as a myth even among the Kyn, and she had been part of them for years.
Warrick frowned. “I’ve never interfered with your Wraith duties.”
She snorted and pulled back. “Any male that claims a mate becomes damn possessive. They try to shelter their little female from the big bad uglies of the world. Problem is I’m part of the group that keeps those big bad uglies in check, regardless of who my mate is.” She caught his gaze. “Tell me it doesn’t bother your wolf that my job puts me in danger.”
“I can’t,” he admitted. “But both man and wolf know exactly how dangerous you can be. We’re counting on that to help keep you safe.” The feral protectiveness leaking through their connection stole her breath. “Don’t make me regret that faith.”
“As long as you know it’s mutual.”
Surprise flashed across his face. “You don’t have to protect me.”
Stupid, stupid male. “If I’m your mate, those who threaten you, will answer to me.”
Suddenly, the cinnamon and clove spiced scent she associated only with him filled her nose, a seductively dark edge weaving through it. Her words had triggered a definite response in the man watching her.
He clenched a fist in frustration. “Ryuu and Sebastian are my Second and Third for a reason.”
She straightened, fighting back the urge to shake him. “If we’re a couple, then I will have your back. They can’t be with you twenty-four-seven.”
“Neither can you.”
His dismissive tone hurt, but she dropped it for now. She could probably beat his stubborn ass to a pulp and he’d still think he was indomitable. Fine, there were other ways to make him see her as a partner instead of a weakness.
“Last rule.” She fought to keep her tone level. “No lies. Ever.” On the other side of the bike he remained silent, watching her. She met his gaze and let him see just how serious she was. “No keeping things from me.” Her voice was laced with steel. “No giving me part of the story, no hiding the truth to protect me.”
“Or?”
“Or I leave now.”
His face darkened. “And go where?”
“Vegas.” Quiet conviction rang in her answer. Never threaten an alpha unless you meant it. It would rip her heart out, but she’d do it. “Their alpha, Jeanette Claison, would have no problems accepting a Tracker.” Xander could handle his need to protect her, his asinine belief that he was invincible, but she’d be damn if she’d stand beside someone who didn’t believe in her strength, who lied in his misguided attempt to keep her safe.
The silence stretched and she thought she finally asked for something he couldn’t give. She held her breath, bracing for the pain beginning to etch itself over her heart.
“Xander.”
Her name in that low voice had her blinking and meeting his amber-flecked gaze.
“I will do my best to never lie to you, but I can’t promise that I won’t deal with it myself if I think the threat to you is great enough.”
“Would you tell me first?” She pushed the question past the tightness of her throat.
He paused. “I don’t know.”
His honesty stung, but she had asked—no, demanded—it, so she couldn’t complain. She swallowed past her dry throat and made her decision. “Fine. Then I’m yours.”
She would have to accept this was what he could give her, for now. The rest, she’d have to fight for, but then that was nothing new.
Chapter Six
Xander shut off the Ducati’s engine, the rumbles fading into the night as Warrick unwound his arms from her waist. Light spilled from the glass front of the seven-story building that housed Taliesin Security, a national leader in security. Taliesin also served as the public front for the Northwest Kyn. Here, the Kyn held jobs, utilizing their unique skills while providing a believable cover to their human counterparts.
Locking the helmets to the bike, she followed Warrick past the night security guard to the elevators. When the door slid shut, she took a moment to let her spine slump against the back wall. Using the reflective surface of the elevator’s doors, she watched Warrick from under her lashes. The soft, interior light smoothed the ragged edges of the night’s stress on his angular face. He leaned a shoulder against one wall, his attention seemingly focused on the ascending floor numbers.
“Why are we here?” She almost regretted breaking the comfortable silence.
His attention shifted from the glowing numbers to her, but she kept her relaxed pose. “I’m hoping to get some answers on what happened with Eilers tonight.”
She raised an eyebrow. “How?”
Before he could answer, the soft ding heralded the elevator’s arrival to the top floor. He led the way through the simple but lushly appointed reception area and the deserted front desk. Entering the security code, Warrick pulled open the door leading into the interior offices and held it as she passed through. Subtle lights ran along the floor, casting heavy shadows down the hall. Together, they continued past darkened offices and conference rooms.
The hall ended, branching left and right. Turning to the right, where Warrick’s rarely used office was located, she came to a halt when he quietly called her name.
Turning, she saw him continue down the left corridor to where a swath of bright light cut across the gloom. Sighing, she reversed course and followed in his wake, catching up in time to see him stop in an open doorway.
“Hello, Raine.”
“Dammit, Vidis. Whatever you dragged me in for better be damn important.”
<
br /> Xander couldn’t stop a grin spreading across her face at the familiar, feminine, disgruntled snarl. She ducked around Warrick’s body and threw herself into a chair. A warm toned wooden desk fought for space with leafy green things tucked into the corners. No pictures graced the walls, and the standard computer screen and keyboard were huddled on the far corner of the desk, as if trying to put as much space between Raine McCord and their delicate mechanical parts as possible.
At Xander’s entrance, Raine straightened and flashed her a smile, before resuming her frown that etched small furrows between her startling gray eyes. Her black hair, with newly acquired glints of silver, was pulled back, and her hands were curled around a cup, with the telltale string of a tea bag hanging over the edge. Part Fey and part mixed bag of tricks, thanks to some twisted science experiment, Raine was an enigma in the Kyn world. Yet, the lethal warrior had been honed in the hellish fires of her past, leaving behind the pure blade of a survivor. Becoming Raine’s friend required delicate handling, much like the temperamental leopard she could shift in to.
“Hey, Raine.” Xander propped her boots against the edge of the desk. “How’s things?”
“Things were fine, until your summons arrived,” Raine sent Warrick a dark look.
Needing to ease the tension of Raine’s unintentional challenge, Xander laced her fingers behind her head. “Hmm, was Gavin giving you a cooking lesson?”
Raine had mentioned her lover and partner, Gavin Durand, was sharing his culinary secrets.
The distraction worked and a hint of color rose over Raine’s high cheekbones as she turned her attention back to Xander. “He’s damn good in the kitchen.” She raised her cup to take a sip of tea, not quite hiding her small smile.
“I bet.” Xander met her gaze with a feminine smirk, squashing the small twinge of jealously at her friend’s telling gesture. Raine and Gavin recently figured out how to make their complex relationship work. Not an easy accomplishment by any means, since both were members of the Wraiths. Yet, the fact that they found a way gave Xander the slim hope that she and Warrick might find their own path. “Thanks for coming in.”